Abstract: A method for applying glue to the upper surface of soles for footwear includes the steps of transferring a sole to a first station with the upper surface turned upward, picking up the outline of the sole, transferring the sole from the first station to a second station, keeping the sole orientation unvaried and applying a jet of glue directed to the upper surface of the sole along a path that can be adjusted and that follows the border of the sole. In a different embodiment, glue is also applied to the surface of the upper that is intended for attaching of the sole.

Abstract: Device comprising a conveyor designed to transport trays some of which have lasts covered with uppers and soles. The claimed device comprises: a table having several tracks perpendicular to the conveyor and each track is provided with a device for transferring a tray between the conveyor and a remote reference position; the tracks being designed to receive trays with uppers and soles; a transfer robot located on the side of the table opposite the conveyor; a press located on one side of the robot; and a manual station, for assembling uppers and soles, located on the opposite side of the robot.

Abstract: A conveyer device includes a number of shafts coupled to a chain, and a number of platforms and beams rotatably coupled to the shafts. A number of springs are engaged on the shafts and are secured to the platforms and the beams for resiliently supporting the beams and for resiliently supporting the shoes between the beams. The beams are moved away from each other against the springs for supporting shoes of different sizes. The springs are not engaged between the beams such that the springs will not engage with the shoes supported between the beams.

Abstract: The machine comprises a shoe support (20), two side lasting assemblies (230) and a heel seat wiper mechansim (170), the shoe support comprising a last pin (24), a toe support (30) and a heel band mechanism (150). The heel band mechanism is mounted for rotation about an axis (158) whereby a shoe clamped thereby, after a lasting operation has been completed, can be removed from the operating locality of the machine onto a shoe-receiving platform (330) on to which the heel band mechanism then releases the shoe. The shoe support 30) also includes a shoe heel end positioning mechanism (86) by which a next shoe to be operated upon can be located at the operating locality of the machine during the removal of the shoe which has been lasted.

Abstract: A shoe support for supporting lasts of a wide range of sizes comprises two support members in the form of spaced-apart bars (38) each of which can pivot at an axis (36) extending adjacent an elongated edge of its associated bar so that the distance between the ends of the bars can be varied. Instead of bars (38), plate members (138) may be used, dimensioned so as to provide a substantially continuous support surface, for e.g. shoe components, when pivoted to a horizontal position. For maintaining the support members (38;138) in adjusted position, furthermore, a friction arrangement (40,42; 144,146) is provided. The shoe support is especially suitable for use in a shoe transporter system forming part of a drying apparatus in which the bottoms of shoes and/or shoe components to which a coating of e.g. adhesive has been applied can be supported by the shoe supports with the coated surfaces exposed to turbulent air and heat.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided with a chamber (20) into which a plurality of jets of moisture-laden air is directed through apertures (nozzles) 18. Through the chamber lasted shoes S, on the bottoms of which a coating of a moisture-curable adhesive composition has been applied, are progressively moved, supported bottom uppermost. The velocity of the air, which is re-circulated, is between 10 and 20 meters/second (measured at the apertures), its temperature is between 85.degree. C. and 125.degree.0 C. (measured at the point of impingement on the article) and its dew point not greater than 60.degree. C. The lasted shoes are subjected to this treatment for a period of 1 to 31/2 minutes.

Abstract: In an integrated system to achieve a number of operations on a footwear upper assembly, an automatic rougher that includes a roughing tool adapted to remove material--and hence rough--the cement margin (or bonding surface) of the footwear upper assembly to provide a cementing surface onto which an outer sole is later applied. The cement margin (or bonding surface), as is known in this art, typically follows a closed-loop path that rapidly changes in all directions of an X-Y-Z coordinate system and the roughing tool must be continuously re-oriented to the many direction changes of the cement margin in order to track the margin. According to the present teaching the upper assembly, and hence the cement margin thereof, is ordinarily moved in rotational movement, rocking movement, transverse translational movement, and, also, vertical translational movement (i.e., movement toward and away from the roughing tool) during the course of roughing.

Abstract: For use in a system that includes first and second machines to perform operations on a footwear upper assembly, a transfer machine that includes an activator arm assembly, and a gripper assembly rotatably and pivotally connected to one end of the activator arm assembly. The gripper assembly includes a pair of fingers with a gripper jaw pivotally secured to each of the fingers. The pair of fingers are movable toward and away from each other respectively to grasp and release the footwear upper assembly. The pivotal attachment of the jaws permits the jaws to adjust to the irregular profile of the footwear upper assembly, a situation which is enhanced by the geometry of the gripper jaws which permits contact between the jaws at regions spaced longitudinally along the footwear upper assembly and by choosing a jaw material that is soft enough to deform, and hence provide larger contact area between the upper assembly and the jaws.

Abstract: A transfer machine to move a footwear upper assembly (or the like) between stations in a footwear (or the like) processing system which transfer machine includes an end effector having a mechanism to grasp the footwear upper assembly. A base serves as a reference in an X-Y-Z coordinate system with respect to which positions of the footwear upper assembly are known during movement of the footwear upper assembly within the footwear processing system. An interconnecting mechanism connects the end effector to the base and provides seven degrees of freedom to the mechanism to grasp with respect to said base; three translational degrees of freedom along the X-Y-Z axes of the transfer machine, a pivotal degree of freedom with respect to the base about the Y-axis, a tilting degree of freedom about the X-axis, a pivotal degree of freedom about the Z-axis, and a further pivotal degree of freedom about the Y-axis.

Abstract: A last has an insert shaped to fit within a shoe during its manufacture and a stem fixed on the insert, projecting along an axis from the insert, and formed with radially oppositely projecting front and rear protrusions. A gripper has front and rear jaws formed with respective recesses complementarily engageable with the protrusions so it can accurately hold and position the shoe and last. The protrusions and recesses are formed substantially entirely of planar surfaces, although they can be complementarily rounded, for instance part-spherical. The stem has a radially directed flat provided with indicia and the gripper is provided with a scanner juxtaposable with the flat for reading the indicia. A stationary card on the flat carries the indicia.

Abstract: The machine carries out the operations of roughening, reducing, straightening and the like on soles for footwear. The sole is automatically transferred under a processing unit by a carrier moving stepwise and provided with a plurality of driving blocks. A fixed stroke actuator comprises a pegged disc connected by mechanical transmission to the carrier. A bolt locks the carrier and arrests the carrier in the forward motion. During the return course of the actuator, the driving blocks withdraw from the sole.

Abstract: Shoe manufacturing system to rough and cement lasted uppers and outsoles including subsequent operations to load shank and bottom filler, dry, spot and sole lay, scour, and ink "cement construction" shoes. The system combines non-synchronous carrousel transport with roughing and cement application stations where preprogrammed selective shoe model and size numerically controlled roughing and cementing application operations are performed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous, automatic manufacture of individual shoe covers includes a supply of two continuous webs of material, a device for advancing each of the two webs through the apparatus, an adhesive applicator for applying an adhesive at longitudinally spaced increments to at least one of the webs, a pressing station where the webs are pressed together to form adhesively joined segments at the longitudinally spaced increments, a hole producing station where holes are made in the adhesively joined segments, a second pressing station where the webs are again pressed together, stations for sewing one longitudinal edge and selected portions of the other longitudinal edge together between adjacent adhesively joined segments, and a severing station where the webs are cut through the adhesively joined segments to form individual shoe covers. The hole producing station may include a rotatable member having a number of pins extending from it.

Abstract: The transfer apparatus comprises a transfer arm (16) and a distributor (18). The transfer arm has two axes of movement (22,26) and is non-extendable so that it moves between a take-off station and an intermediate station (I) through a fixed distance. The distributor (18) has a table (50) which receives a shoe (S) at the intermediate station (I). Furthermore, the table (50) can be positioned at any one of four stations (I,F1,F2,F3) each aligned with a channel (12) of a heat setting apparatus (14). A pneumatic control circuit causes shoes (S) fed successively to the table (50) to be transferred in a sequence to the channels (12) by operation of pusher means.The apparatus is suitable for transferring shoes from a lasting machine, a shoe support (10) of which can be positioned at the take-off station, to a heat setting apparatus (14).

Abstract: Apparatus for the heat treatment of lasted shoe uppers, e.g. for use in the curing of moisture-curable adhesive applied to the periphery of a shoe bottom. The apparatus comprises a treatment station (2), a conveyor belt (4) and drive means therefor, the belt being adapted to progressively present portions of lasted shoe uppers to the treatment station, and support means for the belt. The conveyor belt (4) comprises one or more rows of slots (10) extending in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, each slot (10) being so dimensioned that a lasted shoe upper can be supported bottom up by the conveyor belt (4) with the last cone projecting into the slot. The support means preferably comprises two portions, the first portion comprising lands (16) by which the belt (4) is supported adjacent the or each row of slots (10) and a trough aligned with said path of movement, and the second portion comprising a continuous support surface (20).

Abstract: The heat setting machine comprises a channel along which a lasted shoe upper is conveyed to be subjected to heat. The apparatus comprises a resiliently deformable member extending along and secured to one side of the channel. The resiliently deformable member, which may be in the form of an inflated bag, is arranged to extend across the channel to engage a cooperating member secured to the other side of the channel and thereby close the top of the channel. By deformation of the resiliently deformable member, the leg portion of the lasted upper of high-legged boot can be inserted between the members to be supported thereby as it is conveyed along the channel.

Abstract: A mechanism for so transporting an insole (118) rearwardly between a pair of molds (122,124) that regardless of the length of the insole the ball portion of the insole is in registry with the ball portions of the molds. This is accomplished by a mechanism that moves gauges (36,54) at different speeds against opposite ends of the insole to locate the insole on a support (52,58) and then transports the insole on the support a prescribed distance rearwardly between the molds. This invention provides the improvement of an adjusting arrangement for adjusting the ratios of the speeds at which the gauges are moved against the opposite ends of the insole.

Abstract: The machine comprises a plurality of substantially enclosed channels in which a lasted shoe upper is subjected to hot air blown from both sides of the channel. Conveyors carry the uppers along the channels past inlets located at a distance of from 6 to 20 cms from the center-line of the lasted upper as it passes longitudinally along the channel. This arrangement enables air to be blown on to the uppers at high velocity. Moistening means may be provided to introduce moisture into the air before it is blown on to the uppers.

Abstract: Shoes with bonded type soles may be made at a higher rate of speed on a line with continuous travel of the lasts, at a predetermined and variable rate, where the series of automatic machines come, in most cases, to work on the last. Either a complete installation, with automatic, programmed cycle, or a series of automated units particularly make possible: placing of the insoles on the last with foot and size selection and centering of the insoles; simultaneous gluing and assembly of the sides after placing of the uppers; roughing operations with preregistration of the depth and following of the profile of the sides; overturning of the sole, prepositioning on the upper, reactivation of the glue, attachment and bonding of the sole; and removal from the last. The installation may be used for the production of various types of shoes by units assembled by unit in pairs or by pairs.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for making disposable shoe covers from a substantially continuous supply of material, the material is moved continuously through a plurality of operating stations wherein two parallel sheets of the material are joined to form a shoe cover. The webs of material are drawn from two supply sources along a parallel path where an elastic band of material is attached to one edge of both webs and are united by glueing and stitching operations. In addition, when desired, a static strip is added as the web moves through the apparatus. After the webs of material have been joined, the apparatus cuts the length of joined webs into discrete lengths to define the individual shoe covers.

Abstract: A method for the continuous processing of laminar flexible workpieces, especially in the production of leather, shoes or clothing is disclosed. The method involves the pressing, especially hot-press gluing of workpieces wherein the workpieces are conveyed along a continuous path in pressure zones comprising at least one low-pressure zone on the input side for spreading or smoothing the workpieces and at least one succeeding high-pressure zone for pressing the workpieces. The workpieces are preferably conveyed in a generally upwardly direction from the inlet toward an outlet generally superposed above and in a direction opposite the inlet feed of the workpieces.

Abstract: A method of rapidly heat setting a shoe on a last wherein the shoe is subjected to dry air at elevated temperature, the air moving at a velocity at the shoe exterior of not less than five (5) meters per second for not more than three and one-half minutes. The method achieves shape retention in a lasted upper with improved efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing shoes characterized by shoe lasts arranged on a conveyor with a paired alternating arrangement with the shoe toes alternately pointing in opposite directions, and by a template adapted to be moved parallel to the conveyor backwards and forwards and on the edge of which there engage mutually touching spring loaded end parts of two independently arranged control linkages, the control linkages being connected with shoe bottom part processing tools arranged at their other ends. The speed of travel of the template in the two directions is held substantially equal to the speed of advance of the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a sole to an upper in the manufacture of shoes, comprising in combination: a seat for a sole, a shoe last destined to receive an upper completed with insole, a means for lifting and for transporting the sole, said means being capable of controlled reciprocation between said seat and said shoe last, and guide means cooperating with the latter in order to guide the sole to a position centered on the upper.

Abstract: A process for carrying out the buffing of the upper sole of shoes wherein said buffing is effected by a sequence of passages of a buffing tool, wherein each buffing passage effects the machining of an elemental area of the sole of the upper, said sequence of passages being so arranged that a peripheral overlapping of the single buffed elemental areas will be obtained, so as to obtain a uniform buffing of the entire sole of an upper of a shoe.